Table top and back splash construction



Oct. 14, 1952 J. STAN ITZ TABLE TOP AND BACK SPLASH CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 6, 1950 1 N VEN TOR. Jacques SZa/nI/tz BY 7W WW ATTORJVEYS Patentecl 0st. 14, 1952 TABLE TOP AND BACK' SPLASH CONSTRUCTION Jacques Stanitz, Warren, Ohio, assignor to Mullins Manufacturing Corporation, Salem, Ohio, a corporation ofNew York Application January 6, 1950, Serial No. 137,082

2 Claims.

The invention relates generally to a flat table top or similar work surface such as the top of a kitchen cabinet or sink drainboard, and more particularly to a table, dra-inboard or cabinet top having a pliable covering such as'linoleum and the like and a coved back splash. This type of table top is shown in my prior application, Serial No. 576,526, filed February '7, 1945, matured in Patent No. 2,492,541, dated December 27, 1949, entitled Table Top Construction; and the present application embodies novel and useful improvements over said prior application.

The table top disclosed in said Patent No. 2,492,541, includes a stamped metal base having a flat top with depending rim flanges and a 1-inoleum covering cemented to the top, there being a nosing member on the front edge of the base member abutting the front edge of the linoleum, and an S -shaped back splash coved member bolted to the flat top of the base and having a front base portion abutting the rear edge of the linoleum. The back splash cove member is bolted to the base at spaced intervals and the table top and back splash frequently are cut off in the field to fit side-to-sid dimension requirements, as in the case of fitting one side of the table top into a corner. In such event the cut may be made at or adjacent to a bolt location in the back splash cove member, in such manner as to remove the bolt holes and leave the end portion of the back splash unfastened and non-rigidly supported.

Moreover, the upper end of said back splash cove member is unsupported except by abutment with the adjacent wall of the room, and such abutment is always more or less non-uniform table top surface where moisture can penetrate and ultimately deteriorate the covering material.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel sheet metal table top with an integral back splash cove member which will overcome the foregoing difilculties.

Another object is to provide a novel sheet metal table top with an integral back splash having its top rear end supported directly on the base.

A further object is to provide a novel table top construction having an integral back splash v 2 member with the coved part of the back-splash merging with the top of the base, and "the base and coved part being covered with a continuous sheet of covering material.

Another object is to provide a'novel sheet metal table top and back splash construction which eliminates a joint in the covering material at the juncture of the flat table top and the back splash. These and other objects apparent to those skilled in the art may be obtained by the devices, constructions, arrangements, combinations, subcombinations and elements comprising the present invention, the nature of which is set f-o'rth in the following general statement, a. preferred embodiment of which is set .forth in the following description and shown in the drawing as exemplifying the best known mode of carrying out the invention, and which is particularly and distinctly set forth in the appended claims forming part hereof. In general terms, the nature-of the present improvements may be stated as including :a sheet metal base member having a fiat top with dc pending rim flanges terminating preferably in inturned flanges entirely around the base, a sheet metal back splash member extending along the rear edge of said base and welded to the top and rear depending flange thereof so as to be integral therewith, said back splash member havof said covering material and making flush joints therewith.

Referring to the drawing forming part hereof. in which a preferred embodiment of the improved table top and back splash construction is illustrated by way of example: 5 I 1 Figure l is a fragmentary perspective View of a kitchen cabinet unit provided with the improved table top construction;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view thereof, with distant parts removed;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged expanded cross sectional View thereof; and I Fig. 4. is a sectional view through the base portion taken at right angles to Fig. 2, as on line c 4, Fig. 1.

Similar numerals refer :to similar parts throughout the various figures of the drawing.

The top portion of a kitchen cabinet indicated generally at 5 is shown in Figure 1 with the improved table top and back splash construction applied thereto. It will be understood that within the scope of the invention the improved table top and back splash construction may be applied to other work surfaces such as kitchen drainboards and the like. The table top includes a sheet metal base member indicated generally at 5 having a flat top portion I terminating at the side and rear edges in a downturned flange 8 and at the front edge in .a preferably curved downturned flange 9. The flanges 8 and 9 preferably terminate in inturned flanges I and II respectively.

The sheet metal base member 6 is box-like in form and the side flanges and inturned flanges make it relatively rigid. The rigidity of the central portion of the top is preferably increased by securing a channel-reinforcing member I2 to the underside of the top portion 1 as by spot welding, and the channel extends between the sides of the top portion and within the downturned and inturned flanges 8 and I0 thereof, as best shown in Fig. 4.

As shown in Fig. 3, the inturned flange II is spaced above the inturned flanges ID for a purpose to be described, and the rear part of the top portion 1 is downwardly offset or recessed as indicated at I to form a transverse shoulder I3. The back splash member indicated generally at I4 is formed of sheet metal and includes a front inclined flange I5 which is provided with a curved portion or cove I6 which terminates in a horizontal flange II. As shown in Fig. 2, the front edge of the horizontal flange I1 is positioned abutting the shoulder I3, and the depth of the recessed portion I is equal tothe thickness of the flange I1, so that the upper surface of the flange I1 merges with the upper surface of the flat portion I of the base. The flange I! is secured to the recessed portion I of the base preferably by spot welding the flange H to the recessed portion across the entire width of the base.

The top I8 of the back splash I4 is preferably horizontal, and has a depending flange I9 extending downwardly from its rear edge. As shown, the upper part of the flange I9 is offset or recessed inwardly to form a recessed portion I9, for a purpose to be described. The lower edge 20 of the'flange I9 preferably terminates a short distance above the inturned flange I0 at the rear of the base, when the back splash is positioned on the base as shown in Fig. 2 with the flange I1 abutting the shoulder I3. Preferablythe bottom portion of the flange I9 is securedto the rear downturned flange 8 of the base across the full width of the base, as by spot welding.

Thus, the top of the back splash is rigidly supported directly on the base across its full width, and the flange I7 is rigidly supported on the recessed portion I across its full width, to make a rigid and integral structure of the base 6 and the back splash I4. Accordingly, if the base and back splash is cutoff in the field to fit side-toside dimension requirements, there is no rigidity lost between the base and back splash because they are secured together substantially at the cut-off edges.

The front of the base member 6 is provided with a metal nosing member 22 having a channel shape and the same curved contour as the contour of the depending base member flange 9. The edge of the upper nosing flange 23 is beveled so as to slightly overlap and engage the front edge v.of the linoleum sheet 24 which is provided with a complementary bevel, so that the front edge of the linoleum is firmly secured by the beveled edge of the nosing. The lower flange 25 of the nosing 22 is secured by suitable means such as the screws 26 to the inturned flange II of the front base member flange 9. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the thickness of the lower flange 25 of the nosing member is equal to the amount that the inturned flange II is spaced above the inturned flanges I0, so that when the nosing is telescoped over the front end of the base, the bottom of the nosing will be flush with the bottom of the inturned flanges ID of the base.

The linoleum sheet 24 is preferably cemented to the flat top I of the base, and also to the horizontal flange H, the cove I6 and the front inclined flange I5 of the back splash. The linoleum covering extends continuously from the upper flange 23 of the cove member 22 across the flat top and upwardly over the cove and front flange of the back splash. As shown, the rear edge of the linoleum is made to terminate a short distance from the top I8 of the back splash, and is beveled similarly to the front edge, the rear beveled edge being engaged and overlapped by the beveled lower edge of the front flange 21 of a top nosing 28 having a rear flange 29. The top nosing 28 has a channel shape and the same contour as the top portion of the back splash so that it may be telescoped thereover as shown in Fig. 2, the rear flange 29 being secured to the recessed portion I9 of the back flange by bolts 30 or the like. As shown, the portion I9 is recessed inwardly of the flange I9 an amount equal to the thickness of the rear flange 29 of the nosing 28, so that the rear surfaces of the flange 29 and the flange I9 are flush in order to flt as snugly as possible against a wall or the like.

The feature of having the linoleum covering 24 extend to a point near the top of the back splash provides for utilizing a narrow top nosing member 28 to reduce expense, and also positions the joint between the front flange 21 of the nosing and the rear edge of the linoleum at a point well above the flat table top surface of the covering 24 so that no water can penetrate at such joint.

Generally channel-shaped members 3| may be provided along each side edge of the table top to bind and trim the base member 6 and the linoleum covering 24. These members 3| preferably have upper flanges 32 overlapping the linoleum and lower flanges 33 extending under and secured to the inturned flanges I0, as by bolts 34.

The improved base member 6 is a sheet metal stamping which may be readily fabricated by production methods. The back splash member I4 is also a simple sheet metal part which is readily fabricated by production methods, and which may be rapidly and easily spot welded to the base member 6. The nosing members 22 and 28 are inexpensive and are quickly and easily applied and attached to the base member and back splash member, respectively, so that the improved table top and back splash member can be fabricated and assembled in a minimum amount of time and with a minimum of expense.

Accordingly, the improved table top and back splash construction provides an inexpensive assembly readily adapted to be factory-made by production methods to reduce installation difliculties and cost, and which may be cut off in the field to accurately fit side-to-side dimension requirements without detracting from the rigidity of the back splash, because the same is spot welded both at its front and rear edges across the width of the base, so that regardless of cutting or trimming the back splash will be rigidly supported on and attached to the base at or closely adjacent to the cut edges thereof.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such terms are utilized for descriptive purposes herein and not for the purpose of limitation, and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the embodiment of the improved construction illustrated and described is by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction of the various parts.

Likewise, the construction is not limited as to length because the table top construction may serve as the drainboard for a sink of indefinite length, and any platform, work table, or the like, is intended to be included in the term table top as used herein. Moreover, the covering 24 may be of any pliable covering material including rubber, plastic, laminite, or other suitable covering or facing material.

Having now described the features of the invention, the manufacture of a preferred embodiment of the improved table top and back splash construction, and the advantageous, new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and useful devices, constructions, arrangements, and combinations, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a table top construction including a sheet metal base member having a flat top portion formed around its edges with a dow turned flan the rear part of said flat top portion being recessed to form a transverse shoulder therein, a sheet metal back splash member extending along the rear edge of said base, said back splash member having a front coved portion welded to the recessed top portion of the base and merging with said shoulder and a back flange extending downwardly from the top of the back splash member and welded to the downturned flange at the rear of the base member, and a pliable covering material extending continuously over said flat top portion of the base and said front portion of the back splash.

2. In a table top construction including a sheet metal base member having a flat top portion formed around its edges with a downturned flange, the rear part of said flat top portion being recessed to form a transverse shoulder therein, a sheet metal back splash member extending along the rear edge of said base, said back splash member having a front coved portion welded to the recessed top portion of the base and merging with said shoulder and a back flange extending downwardly from the top of the back splash member and welded to the downturned flange at the rear of the base member, said back flange being recessed in its upper portion for receiving the flange of a trim member, and a pliable covering material extending continuously over said flat top portion of the base and said front portion of the back splash.

JACQUES STANITZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,768,731 Awbery July 1, 1930 1,782,434 McGuire Nov. 25, 1930 1,919,629 Galtieri July 25, 1933 2,030,730 Wilson Feb. 11, 1936 2,038,637 Brey Apr. 28, 1936 2,038,638 Brey Apr. 28, 1936 2,115,130 Thurn et al Apr. 26, 1938 2,158,467 Madsen May 16, 1939 2,186,530 Jones Jan. 9, 1940 2,288,470 Lorraine June 30, 1942 2,298,578 Madsen 1 Oct. 13, 1942 2,439,027 Stanitz Apr. 6, 1948 2,492,541 Stanitz Dec. 27, 1949 

